With the Omni, Eeco, Ertiga and now the Vitara Brezza and S-Cross, Maruti Suzuki is the default choice for Indian buyers in the market for a crossover or vehicles with third-row seating.
Here we bring you 5 utility vehicles from Suzuki's global roster, that are currently not on sale in India, and for good reason.
Suzuki APV
The Suzuki APV is an all-purpose Indonesian family van that's practical, roomy and economical. It features a no-thrills design and rides on Suzuki's lightweight TECT platform from a bygone generation.
For its size, it offers plenty of room for passengers and luggage following in Suzuki's tradition to maximise space utility within a compact body. The APV has a third row making it an eight-seater and offers ample leg space for rear passengers due to its flat floor.
For the powertrain, the APV gets two petrol options. A 1.5-litre G15A with 90 bhp @6,000 rpm and 124 Nm of torque @ 3,000 rpm. The 1.6-litre G16A produces 91 bhp @ 5750 rpm and 127 Nm of torque @ 4500 rpm.
The APV may not meet upcoming emission and safety regulations in India, and it hence may not be expected in our country.
Suzuki Landy
The Suzuki Landy is a rebadged Nissan Serena MPV and the first large model not built by Suzuki. It features a bold grille with dual chrome slats, sharp-angled split headlamps, sporty bumpers, a floating roof look and vertical taillamps.
The Japan-only 5-door minivan is a well-equipped eight-seater with active safety features like automatic emergency braking (standard across all models), lane departure warning and parking assist. Interiors are optimized to offer ample space for passengers and luggage.
It comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 150 bhp and 200 Nm of torque. A hybrid variant combining a 1.9 kW electric motor with a 2.0-litre petrol is available with the option of an AWD system. Both variants have a CVT.
Given its size, specifications, the boxy shape and the sliding-door design, the Landy is unfit for India.
Suzuki Jimny
The all-new Jimny/Sierra is now in its fourth generation featuring heritage design elements inherited from legends such as the SJ410/SJ413 better known as Maruti Gypsy in India. Simple round headlamps, front grille with vertical slats and rectangular taillights offer a distinctive blend of retro styling and modern design.
It is built on a lightweight, robust ladder frame and the suspension consists a 3 link rigid axle with coil springs. Combined with Suzuki's ALLGRIP PRO 4WD system with low range transfer gear and brake LSD traction control, the Jimny receives maximum torque and traction on all road surfaces making it a formidable off-road machine.
The Jimny gets a petrol 1.5-litre K15B outputting 100 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 130 Nm of torque @ 4000 rpm. The engine provides powerful performance while being compact and lightweight enough to deliver high fuel efficiency.
Maruti will be looking at the Jimny closely, but there are a dozen launches that it needs to get right to hit 3 million units/year target before it can dive into niches.
2018 Suzuki Ertiga
Suzuki's new face for the urban MPV is the 2018 Ertiga which is currently on sale in Indonesia. It is built on the latest generation HEARTECT platform which underpins the new-gen Swift, Dzire, Ignis and Baleno. The front has a new chrome grille design with projector headlamps, integrated foglamps on the front bumper and LED taillights at the rear. The new Ertiga gets elegant new 15-inch alloys.
The interiors feature a completely redesigned dashboard with faux wood panelling, new meter cluster design and a roomier cabin that has end-to-end AC vents. The spacious boot offers great practicality as well.
The powertrain is an all-new K15B 1,462 cc petrol engine offering 103 bhp and mated to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic (CVT).
Expect the new Ertiga in Indian shores this festive season.
Suzuki Vitara
The Vitara combines the traditional image of an SUV with an urban design. It has a chiselled front end with LED projector headlamps. It is available in a myriad of colours and designs to suit every individual taste.
Two petrol variants are on offer, a 1.6-litre VVT 118 bhp and 156 Nm of torque and a 1.4-litre turbocharged BoosterJet offering 138 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. A 1.6-litre DDiS diesel is also available and all three engine options come with Suzuki's ALLGRIP PRO 4WD system.
This week Suzuki announced the updated Vitara which will go on sale globally shortly. For India, Maruti will introduce a crossover-type vehicle on the chassis of the new Ertiga to match the Indian SUV customer's price expecation.
